Steep Canyon Rangers headline White Squirrel festival

Published: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 27, 2009 at 4:35 p.m.

Jupiter Coyote and Steep Canyon Rangers headline the Saturday and Sunday concerts at the sixth annual White Squirrel Festival in Brevard May 23-24.

Named for Brevard's trademark white critters, the Memorial Day weekend festival features the Squirrel Box Derby in which racers compete for trophies for the fastest critter, the squirreliest theme, and the nuttiest design. In addition, businesses fight to win the overall Golden Nut Trophy, which combines overall speed and design.

For those who don’t believe they really exist, there are guided white squirrel tours. Our resident expert and director of the White Squirrel Institute will guide families through Brevard College, the squirrels’ favorite feeding grounds. These are not albinos, but siblings to the gray Eastern tree squirrel. And this particular species made its way to Brevard in 1949 as a result of a carnival wreck in central Florida.

The Memorial Day Parade organized by the American Legion and VFW kicks off the festival on Saturday morning at 9. The crowd-pleasing parade is followed by a “Presentation of the Wreath” at the county courthouse War Memorial.

For more information, visit the website of the Heart of Brevard at www.brevardnc.org, 884-3278.

<p>Jupiter Coyote and Steep Canyon Rangers headline the Saturday and Sunday concerts at the sixth annual White Squirrel Festival in Brevard May 23-24.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>Named for Brevard's trademark white critters, the Memorial Day weekend festival features the Squirrel Box Derby in which racers compete for trophies for the fastest critter, the squirreliest theme, and the nuttiest design. In addition, businesses fight to win the overall Golden Nut Trophy, which combines overall speed and design. </p><p>For those who don’t believe they really exist, there are guided white squirrel tours. Our resident expert and director of the White Squirrel Institute will guide families through Brevard College, the squirrels’ favorite feeding grounds. These are not albinos, but siblings to the gray Eastern tree squirrel. And this particular species made its way to Brevard in 1949 as a result of a carnival wreck in central Florida.</p><p>The Memorial Day Parade organized by the American Legion and VFW kicks off the festival on Saturday morning at 9. The crowd-pleasing parade is followed by a Presentation of the Wreath at the county courthouse War Memorial.</p><p>For more information, visit the website of the Heart of Brevard at www.brevardnc.org, 884-3278.</p>